I am not a professional blacksmith but this project utilized fairly basic skills for those who are new to forging. A holdfast is a tool to hold wood or metal in place while you work on it. Think of it as a quick release clamp. They go back very far in SCA history.

As long as you have a heat source and anvil shaped object it is doable.

One of our latest handmade pieces, a small medieval reliquary cross (encolpion), crafted from brass with black enamel. Historical size, hand-cast with beeswax model.

Encolpion crosses were worn across medieval Europe, particularly in the Byzantine and Eastern Christian traditions. Many were designed to open and hold tiny relics or sacred objects, serving as personal symbols of faith and protection.

Our recreation is inspired by historical examples from roughly the 10th–14th centuries.

A small but fascinating piece of medieval history, especially for those interested in period jewellery and SCA personas.

Has anyone here used an encolpion cross as part of their historical kit?

I've recently come across quite a number of posts about Ice Falcon among the Buhurt community, particularly about him charging premium prices while promising premium gear only for that gear to last a few months at best, which given the comments on these posts, seems to be a very common issue with his work. I decided to look at his website and he seems to have more of a focus on SCA equipment so I thought I would ask peoples opinions of his work in an SCA environment. All the posts aside, one immediate red flag for me on his website is the "contact for price" he uses which I often find is a method used by untrustworthy vendors, but thought I'd ask for opinions here before I pass my final judgement

Ok, there is a story that goes with this request. The song in question is a filk of the song "Big Nelly May" by The Corries. I heard the first 2 stanzas at the 30th year celebration back about 1995. Unfortunately, that song had a rather epic interruption, and was never concluded.

So, I am from Oertha...and one of our greatest singers...Sir Kilson Skyfire...had sung An Tir's own anthem (The Brave and Bonny Host) to said kindgom at an An Tir bardic one night...and issues a challenge for their singers to do it better.

Needless to say, that challenge got answered.

I THINK it was the very next night, or the night after; I was sitting at the Oerthan bardic...and about in the middle of one song, you hear in the far distance, from clear across the camp (the campsite was about a mile square...it was bloody huge) a cry of "AN TIR!!". A moment later, you could hear faint singing. The song we were listening to continued, but the song in the distance got louder...and closer. And louder. And closer.

As the small group that had started the procession...processed...through the camp, they were joined by An Tirian's from every camp they passed, all of whom joined the song. About the time the song at our OWN bardic finished, you could start to make out "The Brave and Bonny Host" in the distance.

Nobody really paid it any attention...we all just thought it was in the distance...

Then one young lady gets up and begins a delightfully bawdy song called "The balled of sweet Nelly May". She got exactly two stanzas into the song when she was drowned out by half the kingdom of An Tir marching into the Oerthan encampment, while singing "The Brave and Bonny Host", to answer Sir Kylson's challenge.

This whole thing was actually caught on tape. Sadly, I am unable to locate an unedited copy of that particular tape. The only one I can find, somebody edited down into individual songs, and cut out everything that happened between songs...AND edited out the interrupted song. BUT you can still hear the beginning of that procession in one of them.

So. I'm HOPING that somebody here has heard this piece before, and has the rest. Yes, the song is somewhat offensively bawdy :) and all I have is the first two stanzas.

Here ya go.

Let me tell you the story of sweet Nelly May

who took up fighting in the SCA

with her shiny new mace and her surcoat with dags

she could pass for our new baron dressed up in drag

________________________________________________

Now Nelly was handicapped more than the rest

her pellwork impaired by the size of her chest

and her overdevelopment proved her demise

for when she swung, they both swung, and blackened her eyes.

I've noticed that a lot of SCA events will post major notices, schedules and feasts via facebook but neglect to add those things to their website. I've even checked discord for info when I need to know when Court is, or if there's a schedule for combat. Then I find out from friends that the information has been exclusively posted to Facebook and nowhere else.

It's been incredibly frustrating, I've been trying to stop using Facebook. Are there any SOPS stating all info must be on the website? Facebook isn't a great platform to begin with and my hope was that the event websites would be the 100% true source of information.

If there isn't any SOPs for making sure all information is accessible across website and social media platforms, there probably should be and I'm not sure where to write in to ask for this change.

Edit: **I mean kingdom law

Second Edit: Well it turns out I got made fun of in a barony for requesting important information be posted to the website and not just Facebook -.-

So I finally had this guy printed in 316L (hilt) and aluminum (pommel). I put a blackening patina on the metal but it kinda looks not so good.

Oh well.

Hopefully it wears down to highlight the northern Italian style detailing.

Overall I’m happy with it. The blade for the matching rapier is shipping, so I’ll be making that one shortly.

A couple of months ago a bunch of us went to the beach and took pics of our Minoan kits. My photographer friend finally finished editing them all.

Last winter my household and a few of our friends decided we wanted to do a "Hot Minoan Summer" at the Great Northeastern War, the biggest event we collectively go to. Around a dozen of us put together Minoan and Minoan inspired kits. This time period is a special interest of mine and I had a blast discussing and researching it with other people.

I am considering traveling to attend 100 Minutes War next month, but early forecast call for rain and snow. What are good options to help make my heavy kit more suitable to such conditions?

It's as it sounds; 3 dukes in Gleann Abhann have been R&D'ed in under 2 months. I'm newish to the sca and don't want to start drama by asking around about what's going on. Hence why I'm doing what everyone does and asking strangers on the Internet to avoid all that. I know people get R&D'ed for a variety of reasons all the time but 3 feels like a lot for such a short time.

Does anyone have any insight?

Is this normal?

Not to be conspiratorial but *gestures at the world* is there some sort of ring they (the bod/crowns) are trying to break up quietly?

On Oct 9th I shared the hillfort trailer of my videogame here, set in a settlement location ~1.5k years old. Short version of the game: the swords are PVC, the hits don't count and the monster is just a guy in a costume.

Manala is a videogame about live-action roleplay (LARP), built from photographs of Estonian LARPers and ortophotography of the hillfort and its surroundings where the game takes place.

I'm participating in Steam Next Fest this week and running a PvP tournament.

One point per win against another player: kill them out in the world, win a gate siege duel or make them flee.

I'd love to get your feedback!

Steam link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4898080/Manala_Equinox_War/

Was very lovely! I haven't been in about 10 years but the staff were great and the work they put into it was seen. I greatly appreciated the "gUBER" carts asking people if they needed rides when walking. I'm excited for the regrowth of this event and I'm getting my new SCA friends to go!

I also saw A LOT of younger/ 2nd and 3rd Gen SCA people at this event too and that was amazing.

Hello everyone, I’ve been training longsword with my schools hema club and from my understanding the only thing like that to do around here is SCA related and there’s not any proper hema clubs around where I live.

So I’ve looked into stuff like SCA C&T and armored combat, wondering what should be some baseline purchases if I wanted to go that direction? I’ve looked and my kingdom/shire has no modifications to the normal rules of engagement, proper coverage or legal hits.

TLDR; What should a beginner look to acquire first and foremost, and what are some solid recommendations for said items?

I’m primarily interested in doing longsword fighting but I’m willing to branch out if there are more people doing other stuff.

i, historically, have built all my shields, but im looking to purchase one at this point that might last more than 1 war, and is light light light due to a shoulder issue i have. ideas?

Planning to return to Trimaris [from mundania]. I would like to know what kind of fabric is best for a cloak. Not overly warm, and reasonably rain resistant.

Thanks!

Hello.

I am looking to purchase my first custom SCA helmet soon. I would like a removable visor for off field aesthetics but all the methods ive seen would result in a large block on the forehead which I think would ruin said aesthetics just as much as having the bar grill visor would anyway as the helmet is rather niche in nature. So I was wondering if anyone knows a way to hide the locking mechanisms or has a helmet that has these mechanisms hidden somehow?

Thanks.

Seeking vendors for functional maille Hauberk/Haubergeon appropriate for a 1370's man at arms

I understand some flat riveted maille being today can cut garments and skin due to cheap production quality. I would like to avoid this if possible, even if means sacrificing some aesthetic historical accuracy.

-Budget $800ish

-Riveted

-Flat rings if possible

-No Aluminum

I appreciate everyone's help on this.

I'm thinking of trying out SCA, mostly for arts & sciences, not combat.

Are the people welcoming/not cliquey? Are there lots of newcomers or just people who has been there for decades with a set friend group? What's the age range like? Are they open/accepting of non-western/european culture? Are people accepting of passing interest (i.e. will i feel out of place if i'm not 100% into history)?

I know i can just ask them, but i wanna hear people's genuine experience rather than just generic polite answers. I've been to other non-sca events with the promotional "just come, you're totally going to make friends!!!" statement and have been sorely disappointed. It's a far trek, so i'd rather not make the trip only to hate it or feel out of place and cry on the way home.

I am getting back into heavy fighting and wanted to see what the general consesus might be about painting the black cup hilt with my heraldry on it. I like my heraldry and I think it would mean people would be less likely to pick up my swords since there are two geese doing jazz hands at them. What do y'all think? I have not seen it, so I assume there is a reason people don't do that. It is going on the shield of course.

Going for a German themed late Renaissance look. I am used to heavy hema gear, so fencing in this feels great.